2004 LOM Workshop

Wednesday 2:40 - 3:00 p.m.

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Sensitivity studies using HYCOM nested regional models

Patrick Hogan, Luis Zamudio, Alan Wallcraft
Naval Research Laboratory
hogan@nrlssc.navy.mil

ABSTRACT

HYCOM has been configured for several regional areas to investigate sensitivity to nesting parameters and ocean dynamics. Boundary conditions for the regional models are provided by high resolution (1/12 degree) basin-scale Pacific and Atlantic HYCOM simulations. An exact boundary condition is used for the barotropic mode and relaxation to temperature, salinity, pressure, and velocity (optionally) are used for the baroclinic mode. The nested regions include the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi Bight region, and the East Asian Seas region. Each region is characterized by unique processes and dynamics which are impacted by the accuracy of the open boundary conditions. Several 1/12 to 1/12 degree Gulf of California simulations have been used to investigate the sensitivity to several nesting parameters, such as updating frequency, the width of the buffer zone, the e-folding time within the buffer zone, and relative importance of the baroclinic and barotropic modes. A 0.08 to 0.027 degree (3x) nested Gulf of Mexico simulation is used to investigate the coastal circulation in the northern Gulf of Mexico, with emphasis on deep ocean - coastal exchange processes.

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LOM Users' Workshop, February 9-11, 2004